Petition calls for U-turn over UNESCO site plans
The plans would see the centre built in Saltaire's Caroline Street car park
- Published
Hundreds of people have called for Bradford Council to reconsider allowing a building to be constructed in the centre of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A planning application to build a community and arts centre on a car park in Saltaire was approved by planners in February.
The centre, which would be run by Shipley College on Caroline Street, would include classroom space and a visitors' centre.
But nearly 800 people have signed a petition calling for the decision to be reversed.
Saltaire was built in the 19th Century by the industrialist Titus Salt, who constructed homes for his workers alongside the mills they were employed in.
It was designated a World Heritage Site in 2001.
A Freedom of Information request by one resident revealed a body which advises UNESCO has raised serious concerns about the arts centre scheme.
Documents obtained by Kate Rawnsley showed the International Council on Monuments and Site (ICOMOS) called for the plans to be reconsidered, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said.
ICOMOS also suggested the car park currently at the site be replaced with allotments or a small park.
The village was built in the 19th Century by the industrialist Titus Salt
It said: “The proposal endangers UNESCO World Heritage status, which is crucial for our community’s cultural heritage and tourism.”
“Titus Salt’s vision was to provide a healthy environment for his mill workers. As most of the green spaces in the setting of the property have been eroded, this makes it all the more essential to maintain the green spaces within the complex.
“It is difficult to understand how this site could be considered as acceptable for a large new building."
Since the documents were made public, a petition calling for the planning application to go back before a planning committee has been signed by 773 people.
But in response, Bradford Council said that ICOMOS' comments had been put forward as part of the pre-application process before the proposals were formally submitted.
It said these concerns were then addressed.
A spokesperson added: "Bradford Council consulted Historic England as a statutory consultee, who expressed support for the scheme, but no comments were received from ICOMOS throughout the formal planning process.
"Only consultation responses submitted as part of the full planning application can be taken into account by officers.
"This is standard practice across the country."
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